The winner of the <a href="http://www.cityarchrivercompetition.org/" target="_blank">St. Louis Arch International Design Competition</a> wasn't meant to be announced until Friday, but it seems the <a href="http://urbanstl.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=3248:mvva-team-wins-arch-design-competition&amp;catid=9:downtown&amp;Itemid=18" target="_blank">cat is out of the bag </a>and the winning design team will be led by <a href="http://www.mvvainc.com/" target="_blank">Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates</a>! The purpose of the competition was to redesign and enliven the area around the famed St. Louis Gateway Arch, better connecting the national monument to city's downtown, the Mississippi River and the Illinois bank. The MVVA Team competed against four other well-known firms, but it was their plan, which integrates sustainable landscaping, that <a href="http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2010/09/20/daily15.html#" target="_blank">"presented a winning combination of the ambitious and the manageable."</a>

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The redevelopment of the area surrounding the Arch focuses on how to better integrate the national monument with the surrounding city.

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Some of the area surrounding the river will be restored to natural wetlands that will encourage the re-population of wildlife.

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Additional park space will be added in multiple areas to connect the city, bypass major roads and provide more recreational space for visitors and St. Louis residents.

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The waterfront will be altered and include a brick-paved pathway at the water, more similar to how the river was in historic times. This pathway will lead directly from the grand staircase up to the arch.

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The large parking structure will be replaced with more park space, an earthen amphitheater and playgrounds as well as an Ecological Center. Three new smaller parking garages will be built around the park.

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At the South Gateway, space will be created for recreational and leisure activities, such as an ice rink in the winter.

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In the summer, a beer garden will be a main attraction along with bike rentals, cafes and recreational paths.

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The land underneath the I-64 overpass, which is currently underutilized, will be converted into "Underpass Park" and provide even more green space.

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A new entrance to the Museum of Westward Expansion will be constructed with beautiful daylight views towards the Old Courthouse.

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On the East bank of the river, a series of elevated walkways will let visitors walk through a series of reconstructed wetlands and be up close with birds flying through the trees.

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All the landscaping will be installed in accordance with organic and ecological practices to maintain the river quality and surrounding environment in a sustainable manner.

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MVVA was assisted by a talented group of design experts and firms, including Arup and Steven Holl, amongst others.

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MVVA will travel to St. Louis on September 24th for the official announcement and will spend the next 90 days refining the plan with the City of St. Louis and the National Park Service.